BLACK RIVER FALLS, Wis. &045; The Albert Lea 14-and-under girls’ hockey team came on strong at the Black River Falls tournament, beating Chippewa Falls 8-0 in the opening game.

Sabra Kogel would start off the scoring with two goals assisted by Jade Gardner. Jenna Christensen would net the next goal assisted by Kogel. Morgan Walton got the last goal of the period unassisted. The Chippewa Falls team held the locals to only two goals the second period. Amy Gackstetter netted the first goal unassisted. Brittney Beener would assist on the third goal Kogel would score which would give her a hat trick. Katie Nelson came back in the third period to score the last two goals with Christensen assisting in both. Molly Yokiel had a shutout for the game.

The locals next faced the team from Coulee Region, coached by former Albert Lean Quentin Fisher. Coulee would allow only one goal in the first period scored by Beener with Kogel getting the assist. Albert Lea would not score in the second period, but would net three more goals in the third. Nelson scored with an assist from Christensen. Christensen would then net one with the assist going to Laura Bledsoe, and Kogel knocked in the last goal of the game. Kelli Hanson was in the net for Albert Lea.

With two games done the locals met Hudson in the Championship round. As in their previous match-ups Albert Lea dominated, winning 6-0. Nelson scored nine seconds into the game assisted by Christensen. Nelson would get the second goal of the game later in the first period with assists awarded to Christensen and Faren Culp. Christensen got the lone goal in the second period assisted by Nelson. Kogel started off the scoring in the third period with a pass from Beener. Kelsey Forman netted her first goal in the game with the assists going to Nelson and Christensen. Nelson and Christensen combined on the last goal of the game giving Nelson a hat trick and Christensen a playmaker. Yokiel had her second shutout of the tournament.

The local team headed into the regional tournament next. With a first-place finish in District 4 the girls would meet Cold Springs in their opening game, winning 5-1. Cold Springs would keep the locals scoreless in the first period, but Kogel assisted by Walton would start the scoring early in the second period. Christensen netted the second goal late in the period with the assist from Bledsoe. Bledsoe and Abby Leach added a goal each before Kogel tacked on the final one, assisted by Walton. Hanson was in the net.

Albert Lea then faced off against Litchfield, winning 3-0. The locals score done goal in each period. Nelson was assisted by Christensen in the first period. Christensen scored from Gardner in the second period, and Nelson from Christensen in the third. Yokiel was in the net.

The team met state-ranked Willmar in the championship game. The last time the locals faced Willmar they had been defeated 5-1, and were hoping for a little retribution.

Albert Lea got on the board first with a goal from Kogel assisted by Beener. Willmar came back with two goals to take the lead. Christensen tied it on a goal assisted by Nelson and Larson. Nelson then scored what Albert Lea fans hoped would be the winning goal, assisted by Christensen. But the tough Willmar team would net a late goal tying it 3-3. Willmar scored with 10 seconds left in a 10-minute overtime, defeating the locals 4-3. Hanson was the goaltender.

The girls played one last scrimmage against Owatonna 14-and-under A team at home. The game would end in a tie with Beener, Christensen and Larson each netting a goal and Nelson getting an assist. Yokiel and Hanson would each spend time in the net for this game.

The team ended the season with a record of 18-8-6.